Dropping Viacom?

As I got up and went downstairs this morning, my sister (as always) wanted me to sit at the couch and watch Nick with her for a few minutes. If you didn't already know, we live in the country and so our TV provider is DirecTV. As Spongebob was finishing up, two crawls came across the screen. Both basically stating the same news, but in different perspectives. The top one, ran by Nick's parent company, Viacom, stated that DirecTV costumers would lose all Viacom networks (26) if they did not call up DirecTV and yell at them. The bottom one, ran by DirecTV, stated that Viacom was wanting a 30% price increase, and that this was not right.

It's an emergency! HAHA!

So-both companies put out some statements.

"DIRECTV has no intention of removing your favorite Viacom networks like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central or MTV. In fact, we’re working hard toward a new agreement to keep these channels available to the DIRECTV customers who want them. We want to keep the channels on while we negotiate. Unfortunately, Viacom sent a letter to our executives forcing us to take the channels away in order to gain leverage against us in negotiations, but we hope they wouldn’t do that to their DIRECTV viewers. Regardless, we continue to ask them to allow the channels to remain on while we negotiate and our customers should ask the same of Viacom as well. DIRECTV customers [could lose] Palladia, Centric, Tr3s, CMT, Logo, NickToons, VH1 Classic, TeenNick, Nick Jr., Nick@Nite, Spike, BET, VH1, TV Land, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV." ~ via http://www.directvpromise.com/faq/...more info there.

"As of midnight on Tuesday, July 10, DirecTV will drop 26 Viacom channels, including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, CMT, Spike TV, TV Land and more. Viacom is the most watched programmer on DirecTV. Nickelodeon is the most watched cable network on DirecTV. We regret that DirecTV refuses to consider a fair deal that recognizes the value of Viacom programming. We urge DirecTV customers to call 800-531-5000 or visit www.whendirectvdrops.com and demand that DirecTV put its customers first, and keep Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET and all of Viacom’s channels." ~via http://blog.viacom.com/2012/07/directv-to-drop-26-viacom-channels-at-midnight-on-tuesday-july-10/

Therefore, what do you think? I, for one, totally understand that Viacom is a company trying to make as much money as they can. DirecTV, it sounds like you put yourself in a bad situation and the deadline will always rule. Big V, just tone down your prices (1 billion!) and understand that 20% of content watched on DirecTV is from you. Who cares what the other companies are charging. Take it out on something else....and maybe produce some better shows! I'm not very fond of the current lineup on ANY of your channels. The TV industry is changing: deal with it.

Also remember that 98% of the time, the channels do not just go off the air and I'm sure a deal is being worked on right now.

Hopefully tomorrow Nick will still be around for my sister or she might have to go outside and do WORK. Anyway, have a good day!